From the rubble of Sept. 11, art that recalls those who lost their lives

NORTH CANAAN — Like most adult Americans, “Jeff†remembers exactly where he was on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, when he heard a plane had flown into the World Trade Center.

And he remembers the sense of disbelief, first as he learned that it wasn’t an accidental strike by a small plane, and then as he heard about the second deliberate strike and the collapse soon after of the towers.  

Little did he know then that he would soon become involved in the tragedy himself.

During an interview in his East Canaan home, Jeff insisted he be referred to only by his first name.

“This is in no way about me. I’m not looking for any kind of credit or profit. This is about 3,000 people who should never be forgotten. My goal is to honor the people that died that day at the World Trade Center, and in the Pennsylvania plane crash, at the Pentagon, and during the rescue.  

“I don’t want people to forget. That’s the most important thing.â€

Shortly after the tragedies, Jeff began making memorials featuring small pieces of stone and window glass from the seven buildings destroyed at the World Trade Center plaza.

He has given away about 175 to places where they will be publicly displayed. One has been on display at the Troop B State Police barracks in North Canaan since about the time Jeff moved here, four years ago.

There is another at the Canaan  Fire Company headquarters, and another was accepted at North Canaan Elementary School just last week.

“I don’t give any to individuals. The idea is to have as many people as possible be able to see them.â€

Jeff was living in northern New Jersey and working at Ray’s Sports Shop in North Plainfield in 2001. He watched television that day with his boss as the  events unfolded.

There were people in his town who died that day, but no one he knew personally.

Not long after, a man came into the shop looking for work clothes for the recovery and cleanup team. He was from a company called Garner International that was dealing with a mountain of debris brought to a landfill on Staten Island.

“They were sorting through every bit of debris, looking mainly for body parts. The hope was that they could use DNA matching to identify some of the countless people who simply disappeared. So many people, especially those in the planes, or on the floors that were hit, were totally obliterated. Others were obliterated in all that falling concrete. It’s hard on the families not to have anything to bury. They need that closure.â€

Jeff and his fellow workers were grateful for the opportunity to help, even in a small way, by providing a steady stream of protective clothing for the people willing to attack that horrific task.

“They would go through a uniform in a day, boots in a few days, and three to four pairs of gloves a day.â€

Jeff was manager of the shop’s custom products division. He designed an arm patch for the forensic recovery project at Garner’s request. Each person who worked received one.

“One day, I asked the guy from Garner, Mike, who came in regularly to pick up clothing, to bring me something from the World Trade Center. I just wanted a little piece. I didn’t expect the large chunks he brought me, and the pieces of window glass.â€

As long as his supply holds up, Jeff said he will continue to bolt the pieces to wooden bases, and mount the brass plaques that implore people to “Never forget.†He has made about 200 so far.

Last Sept. 11, a few of his memorial items were on display at St. Joseph’s Church in North Canaan for World Day of Prayer. The event, sponsored by the church and the Knights of Columbus, has been expanded this year to a 40-hour vigil and schedule of services that begins tonight, Sept. 10. Jeff will be bringing a carload of items for display.

Among them will be a large board mounted with oversized examples of the many memorial patches Jeff and his former employer designed and produced to commemorate “fallen heroes,†from Sept. 11 and more.

It includes patches made to commemorate those who died in the armed forces as well as astronauts who have died in mission disasters.

There will also be enlarged photos of familiar and moving images, as well as some never displayed publicly before. Jeff made a composite of photos showing one of the towers under construction, as part of the lower Manhattan skyline; and a series depicting the collapse, shot from across the river by a photographer who shares Jeff’s desire to remind people. He invites anyone to download his photos for free.

For a complete schedule of the World Day of Prayer event in North Canaan, go online to wdpp911.com.